Simulation of fast-moving objects



April 25, 1933. F, A, GRn-T 1,905,168

SIMULATION OF FAST MOVING OBJECTS Filed oct. 5, 1931 T Tiff ATTORNEY.

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Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 FRANK A. Gnrfr, or INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, AssIeNonjTofGIt'i'rf INceitrt)Irr:1i.iJ oF'INDIANAPoLIs,INDIANA, A croItifORA'iIolvrk 0F INDIANA SIMULATION 0F FAST-MOVING OBJECTS Application filed October 5, 1931. Serial'No'; 567,022'.v

This invention relates generally to illuminated simulation of' motion of objects and especially such objects as may be suitable fork A furtherV object is to provideiniprovedV motion simulatingapparatus which shall notl be costly tomanufacture-and install but shall be adapted to be attractive as an advertising medium and likely to be generally instructive andamusing.

251 Afstillfurthe'r object is to provide eflicient apparatus `for simulation "of fast-moving ob-' jects which 'shallbe'of such construction'as tobe adapted for use asadvertising medium and shall `not be likely to suffer rapid deterio- With the above-mentioned j andv other ob;

jects in yview, the invention consists in a billboard displayingan objectV represented as moving rapidly, and apparatus and other means for simulation'of rapid movement of` thejobject; the invention consisting also further in the features and in the 4arts and combinations and arrangements o parts as hereinafter particularly describedfand further defined inthe appended claims. l

Referringto the accompanying-drawing,- F igui'el is a rontyviewof a display sign having aipicture representinga vehicle as prominent feature oftheinvention; Fig. 2 is Vaffvertical longitudinal section of the display sign structure on a plane adjacent to the back thereof and looking, forward; Fig.

50l 3 is a transversesection jon thefline III- III be adapted to simulate fasteinoving objects ration, but shall be durable and economical illustrative of a fast-movingA object `asV ai on Fig. 2; Fig." 4 is an elevatio'iif,olf`olieL the rotors orlight-interrupters 'andfstr'uttiv al' features associated therewith,A on ari lenlaifged L scale; Fig. 5is a vertical*sectionolitherotofl v illustrating its connection Withali4 elee`, triey 55, lamp-and a shadey or interceptorg'and'Fig; is a'detail vieW'of structural featuresadvaii-Y tageou's'ly vsupporting the pz'irtfs comprised vin the simulation of motion"y apparatus. Simlar reference characters in .the diil'r" 60. ent iigures of the drawing indicate,c iifre-V spending elements or features of c'ii'strulcl' tion herein referred to inl detail. V i

A practical embodiment of the invention comprises a hollow bill-boardstriictirewvh' V in one form has a frame comprising faibot'tf i 1, a back part 2,a top part'fan'dlend" l and 5, the frame suppo'rtingia displ yfp which may be variously' constructed'as' may: be desiredin the representation offtlie article` 704 required to be displayed.v y v l ,j 1 l For displaying a'high speed ofast-nioif? in g object, such as an,auto'olobile"forf adve tising purposes, as illustratedforeira the' display part comprisesanopaqii2 p'y 6 Which extends frorn'the frarrhiebot'tin ward a suitable ,distance-to aline 7 reprs'f" ing the top of `a roadway4 abvewhic'fitli" picture of an automobileispaintedor ui i ably printed toill'ustrate a bodyfSandW i j 9 and'lO which are on opaqiieporti'o l y,oitlr display portion,-the`bdy having"vviiidovis"A 11'F representedV on translucent ,portie fthef display'part. The entire di'rsplaypa be composed of glass v-or other niateifial., portions rendered opaque byieans'ofs able paint or j similar Q eoatingfthefeoii, le ing transparent portions or seinitifalnsp portions which Amay be rendered bymeans ofstains orlight'color tints., The display part/has opaijiie v por.; tions 12 and 13 forward 'aniflfrearwzfl'rdfofftliel vehicle and yopaque up'eiV ieldj'portins'F 141'? Above the line7 thedisplay part has'fati' lucent panel 1,5 lapfpeariiigfto entend'v n the` 2,5 front Wheel 9 nearly tothelfranie partegto;l represent spaceA below` the body 8j and "re if Ward of the rear wheel10,there'beingtranI` lucenty panels 16,17',r 18, 19, 20fadf211n i zontal arrangement rearwardgofthe 190 bile picture designed to give the impression to an observer of fanciful streaks left behind a fast-moving obj ect. The lower translucent panel 15 has characters or figures 22 suggesting clouds of dust` whirling behind the front Wheel, other characters or figures 23 suggesting more dense clouds of dust or exhaust gases whirling behind the rear Wheel 10. The translucent panel corresponding to the Windows has faint representations of dust or vapor 24 to represent background seen through the Windows on the translucent panels. Behind the vehicle picture appear characters orV figures 25, 26 designed to represent rising vand floating clouds of dust behind the vehicle to create the optical illusion the vehiclefis rapidly moving forward. In some cases'the translucent panels may be merely tinted 'appropriately and the ycharacters thereon produced by means of simulating apparatus provided for the purpose and arranged behind'the'display part; or, the simulating Vapparatuspmay operate as complementary to faint artistic representations of vaporous or cloud-like matter floating rearward and upward'behind the pictorial representation.

vImproved mountings are provided for the motion simulating apparatus comprising as preferably constructedy two posts 27 and 28 suitably spaced apart and secured upon the bottom member 1 of the bill-board frame, being arranged at a suitabledistance from the front display part, the posts rigidly supporting the two rails 29 and 30 horizontally ondifferent levels. The lower rail adj ustably supports a plurality of arms 31, 31a, 316, in horizontal arrangement, the upper rail similarly .l supporting a suitable number of arms 310,

31d, each arm preferably being provided with ahead member 32 adjustably fitted to thegrailand provided with a set-screw 33 securing the member inplace, all the arms extending rearward or towards the back board 2. Eachy arm head member has a lamp socket 34 supporting an electric lamp 35. Circuit wires, not shown, are conventionally connected with all the lamp sockets. kEach lampv is provided with a shade 36 constituting a lightinterceptor and secured to the head member 32 to' prevent direct rays of light from'passing to the front displaypart, particularly to the translucent portions thereof. Each shade has a center pin 37 fixed vertically to its top and alight-interrupter is rotatably support'- ed on each center pin,.so that there are a plurality'of' light-interrupters 38, 38a, 386, on the lower rail 29 With a corresponding number of lamps and light-interceptors, there being ka suitableinumber of light-interrupters 38o, 38d similarly mounted on the upper rail 30 with a ,corresponding number of lamps` and light-interceptors. `Preferably the light-interrupters have each a rdome-like upper portion and serpentine slits 39 permitother rotors having also a second sprocket wheel 41 suitably secured to the first mentioned wheel, the Wheels being rotatable on the center pin. A main shaft 42 is vertically arranged in proximity to the end part 4 and rotatably supported by means of Vjournal boxes 43 and 44 secured to the bottom member 1 and the Vtop member 3 respectively of the frame, and the shaft has small sprocket' Wheels or pulleys 45 and 46 secured thereto on appropriate levels. A 'sprocket chain or belt 47 is driven by the wheel 45 and drives Y the wheel 40 of the nearer one of the rotors, the wheel 41 of the rotor driving a sprocket chain 47a which drives the sprocket Wheel 41 of the next adjacent rotor, the latter similarly driving the next adjacent rotor by means of a sprocket chain 47 6and the sprocket Wheels 40. The rotors that are mountedon the upper rail 30 are similarly driven by means of sprocket chains 47 c and 47 d primarily driven by the sprocket wheel 46. The shaft 42 has a suitably large beveled gear wheel 48 lxed thereto, and an electric motor Y 49 is supported on the bottom member 1 and has a small speed-reducing beveled pinion 50 on its drive shaft that drives the wheel 48.

A suitable number of distorting reectors 51, 51a, 516 corresponding `to the number of adjustable arms provided are suitably mounted adjustably on the arms, each reflector preferably being considerably klonger horizontally then the vertical width` thereofv Y and preferably has a pivot stud 52 o'n the middle portion lof its back whereby the reflector is frictonally held adjustably by a standard 53 which is adjustably supported on the horizontal supporting arm 51, preferably by means of a friction clip 54, so that the reiiector; may vbe variously adjusted.. Each reflector hasV longitudinalcreases ordistorting configurations 55 and 56 affording various vrelatively angular reflecting faces, the reflecting face as a vvholerprefer-V ably being generally concave.

Constructed as ydescribed and arranged the, 120 Y reflectors and other motion simulating'devices are distributed behind the various characteristic portions of the translucent parts of the front display part and may be variously adjusted as'indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 as may be found desirable formostfefiicient action to correspond with different pictorlal representations that may be requiredv on a bill-board. Y

vFor obtaining results in harmony With the pictorial representation on the display sign,

trated for example, is arrangedl opposite to..

that portion ofthe pictorial representation of an automobile that` indicates whirling'action offsmoky or cloudy exhaust gases behind the apparently moving object, as the `automobile or an airplane if represented.

The rotorBSb has a cylindricalbody portion or shell which may be composed ofmetal o1," ofcelluloid and has an opaque portion 57 of considerable width adapted to casta `relatively broadshadow Whenturned about the lamp upon which it is mounted by means ofthe shade. To lengthen the periodof the shadow, the wheel or pulley on the rotor may have a greater diameter than that which drives it so that the rotor has relatively slow speed. Thebody of the rotor has also slots or substantially transparent portions 58 and preferably translucent portions 59vto modify the light rays passing to the reflector associated With the lamp and with the shade and the rotor. In the use of the improved lightinterrupter the effect is to cause the illusion of repeated-puffs of engine exhaust vapors differing in appearance from the continuous dust cloud action, so that the Whole effect is singularly realistic and attractive to the observer. v

Depending on the nature of the pictorial representation, the translucent panels may be variously tinted with blended colors `of varying depth to produce an illusory representation of a moving object in complementary visible relation to the effects produced by the motion simulating apparatus. And it is to be understood thatthe rotors may if desired be rotatedv by other means than theelectric power above described.

In ractical use the front of the sign board may e illuminatedby external means such asstreet lamps `or other lamps appropriately arranged. When desired the electric lamps in the bill-board are switched into circuitv androtors are started,the lightv rays from the lamps' beingfreflectedv onto the back of the display part, particularly so as to be effective on thetranslucent, portions thereof. Movement ofthe rotors cause shadows to appear on the opposite reflectors and they are reflected together vwith reflections to simulate streaks on the translucent portions and also various characterizations to indicate floating clouds of vapor or dust apparently wafted in the direction opposite to that in which the pictured obj ect apparently is moving, thus imparting to the observer the visual illusion of an object moving at high speed in comparison with the characterizations appearing on the translucent portions of the sign. Various attractive effects are obtained by various adjustments of the distorting re- Y flectors.

ing visual effects suggestive ofresults of the high speed movement of the object represented', and a plurality ofi lamps with horizontal distorting reflectors and light-interrupters inrgroups arranged behindl the front part. l

2. A display, sign having an opaque front display part and al moving object illustrated on the front face'thereof, the opaque part having si ht-openings, adjacent to the object and trans ucent panels arranged in the sightopenings, and motion-simulating means arranged behind the display part co-operating to cast, luminous representations ofmoving characters on the translucent' panels suggesting relative movement in one direction of the object illustrated. Y

3. A display sign havinga front display part and a fast-moving object illustrated'on the front face thereof, portions ofthe display partY being opaque and other separate portions translucent, the contours of the translucent portions representing animated streaks suggestive of relatively high speed of the object illustrated, and'motion-simulating means arrangedV4 behind'the display part in separate units and'co-operating to cast luminous representations ofcharacters on thev translucent portions indicating movementl of matter in the direction opposite to that of the apparent movement of the .object illus,- trate Y 4; A. displayy sign including a fronti part l los ing adapted to produce an illusory reprc- ,Y

sentationl of a fast-moving object;

5, Apparatus, for simulation'ofva fastmoving object, having a front display part comprising opaqueportions and separate rel-f atively long horizontal translucent portions, the opaque portions bearing a pictorial represent-ation of an. object characteristically suggesting high speed in one direction, the translucent portions having contours characteristicallyr suggestive off the relativelyhigh speed' ofthe object',-`a plurality of the simulating devices to reflect light rays characteristically onto the back of the translucent portions in complementary relation to suggestive contours of the translucent portions to effect an illusory representation of the pictorial object at high speed.

6. A display sign including a display part comprising an opaque portion and separate streak-like translucent panels, the opaque portion bearing a representation of a characteristically high-speed vehiclemoving forward relatively to the panels, the vpanels being characteristically indicative of relative movement ofthe vehicle represented, and motion simulating apparatus arranged behind the display part comprising lamps with shades and light-interrupters and also reflectors co--operating to illuminate the translucent panels with whirling configurations suggestiveof effects of high speed forward movement ofthev vehicle represented, each refiectorbeing concave and having longitudinal creases complementarily heightening illusory motion effectof the panels.

7. A'luminous animated display sign characterized by a front display part and a pictorial representation thereon of a fast-moving object and translucent panels comprised in the display part, a plurality of the panels being visually arranged to extend separately backward from the vrear end of the object represented and characteristically suggesting forward movement of the object on the display part, and illuminating motion simulating apparatus arranged behind the display part to effect illusory effects resulting from high speed of the object through space in complementary relation to the characterizating panels to produce an illustory representation of a fast-moving object.

8; A luminous animated pictorial displayl in simulation of a fast-moving obj ect characterized by a front display part comprising an opaque portion and a plurality of Voblong horizontal spaced apart translucent panels, the opaque portion bearing a visible `representation of a characteristically high-speed object moving forward relatively to the panels, and power-driven motion simulating apparatus mounted behind the display part comprising an electric motor, a vertical' shaft driven by the motor, a plurality of horizontal rails arranged on different levels, a plurality of supporting arms having arm heads adjustably secured separately to the different rails,

each arm head having a lamp bulb and a shade mountedthereon, a plurality Vof light-interrupters rotatably mounted on the shades respectively and provided with sprocket wheels on the top thereof, sprocket chains driven by means ofthe vertical shaft and driving the sprocket wheels, and a plurality of oblong distorting reflectors adjustably mounted on the supporting arms respectively. Y

9.k In a luminous animated display sign, the combination, ywith a front display part comprising an illustrated opaque portion and tinted translucent portions, of a plurality of distorting reflectors arranged opposite tothe back of the display part, a plurality oflam'pl bulbs arranged intermediately of the 'reflectors and the display part, a plurality oflamp shades firmly supported and partially covering the bulbs respectively, a plurality of lightinterrupters rotatably supported by the shades respectively and havingI each a drive wheel fixed thereto,"an electric motor supported behind the front display part, and transmission devices connected with the motor and the drive wheels to rotate the light-interrupters in unison. f

l0. In a luminous animated ldisplay sign, the combination, with a frontr display part comprising an illustrated opaque portion and translucent portions, of a plurality of distorting reflectors arranged opposite to the back of the display part, a plurality of lamp' bulbs arranged intermediately ofthe reflectors and the display part, a plurality of lamp shades firmly supported and partially covering the bulbs respectively, and a plurality of light-interrupters rotatably supported by the shades respectively and having relatively dif-v` of the light-interrupters having definitely different opaque portions and translucent portions to variously interrupt lig'lit'ray's passing from the lamp to the reflector. K In testimony whereof, I l ffix my signature on the 1st day of October, .1931;

l FRANK A. GRITT. 

